Victorian Magic

The Victorian era (1850–1910) is known as the "Golden Age" of magic, where performances evolved from simple street acts to sophisticated theater productions. During this time, several key performers made their mark, including the "professor" who created ghostly illusions still used today, the French clockmaker who became the Father of Modern Magic after a shipping mistake, and the Scotsman who popularized the world's most iconic trick. There was also the English watchmaker who exposed fake Spiritualists and performed magic for 30 years, the performer fatally injured during the "bullet catch" trick whose final words revealed his greatest secret, and the shoemaker’s son who revolutionized both magic and film. Throughout, you’ll see demonstrations of their legendary tricks, both on video and in live performances.